What to expect after Oc surgery

HI Nic, sorry to hear this about your dad, I was the same it was my partner had the op and I asked all kinds of questions so this is what happened to him.  He had 4 rounds of FLOT chemo then the op the part of the stomach thats left was made into a new oesophagus, he was in intensive care for 3 days then moved to a ward with other men.  Intensive care he couldnt say too much but when up in the ward he could talk normal just very tired and sore I think he was there for about 10 days before he got home.  He had 3 months recovery then another 4 rounds of FLOT.  Im not sure this is how your dads treatment will go but seems a lot of people get this.  Its about 18 months from my partner had his op and hes doing pretty well still some struggles but hes here, try to focus on whats happening at the time and take in as much infor you can from the doctors that will help.

HOpe it goes well for you x 

Hi Nic,

I've had OC and three quarters of my stomach removed over a nine hour operation. I woke up in intensive care as expected and was treated like a five star VIP. Although I was full of pipes, drips and drains. I was kept comfortable and mostly pain free. If anything bothered me I just had to ask and it was sorted straight away. There's a lot to be said for one to one nursing care. I was in the ITC for two days and then moved to a side room in the step down ward just across the corridor. A day later because I was doing ok I was moved 10 yards into a four man room. It was nice to have some company and be able to chat a little. I slept a lot and only had to ask if I needed more pain killers. 

I was in hospital for nine days in total but some had complications and had been in a few weeks.

Before all the tubes and drains are taken out you have to pass a swallow test (flouroscopy) which checks for leaks at the site of the operation. If you pass this a lot of things move on quickly and you start to get back to normal. However,  dealing with water and purreed food takes some getting used to after nil by mouth for a week or so.

You can speak by the way but you do have a nasal drain down your throat.

I hope some of this helps.

Best regards

Geo 

Hi Geo sounds like you have been through a lot, hope things have settled down for you.

My op is scheduled for 29th December so feeling a bit anxious. The chemo Is tough and I have 4 rounds planned for after op but like you not sure if I will be able to do them all. Managed to get COVID last week too so not been great. Got anti virals from the team and feel a lot better.

Meet surgery team next Monday to discuss the op. At least I get Christmas at home then the battle resumes.

Good luck for the future

Best wishes

Dean

Hi Dean,

Thanks for your message. I dealt with the first four rounds of chemo pretty well even though I had quite a lot of side effects. I too caught COVID and had to be readmitted to hospital for a few days.

Thought I got through the op ok but this last for rounds of chemo have done me in. I'm not having the last dose. Hoping that three is enough. Normally feeling a little better by now but not this time.

I have lost such a lot of weight and thereby strength. I feel very fatigued and tired a lot. Taste and appetite are not returning as I expected.

Good luck with your journey.

Best regards

Geo.

Hi

Thanks for your kind words Geo I wish you all the best too.

I just want to get through the op without any complications and see what happens afterwards regarding the chemo.

Knew this journey was going to be difficult but staying positive and will do my best to beat this

Cheers

Dean

Hi Geo

Thanks for the reply it’s been very helpful. I hope you’re ok as uv been through so much!!! Will you have another pet scan now after your 3 rounds of chemo? What comes after that? Have they said? 

I did read ud be full of tubes and drains after the op - which scares the life out of me cin my dad like that but all the information I have I can prepare myself hopfully!! Just wish he would speak to us all about everything and how he feels but he doesn’t - us kids just pretend it’s not happening and act very normal around him as we don’t want to upset him . 

tough times ay … hope your doing ok and find your strength again - which I’m sure you will xxxx 

Thanks Samantha…I’m so glad he’s doing well!!!!

what happens after the op? Do they lose even more weight? I’m worried in hospital he will lose massive amounts and there’s nothing on him now as it is!! When he was last in hospital they didn’t eveed him - at this point he couldn’t swallow food yet they kept offering foods he wouldn’t be able to eat!! ( they should know this information) so my mum was bringing stuff in for him … so I worryy just won’t feed him and he will be wasting away …. He’s had his pet scan today so it’s literally just a waiting game now to see what they say next …. Operation or not ….

Hi Nic123

I'm hopefully having my op tomorrow as long as they have a bed.

The op has also changed to possibly removing all my stomach it depends on what they find. They have said it's similar to the original op and I could expect to lose at least 10% of body weight. 

Very nervous obviously but the hospital I'm going to be in the Churchill in Oxford is really good and I have every faith in the team there.

Have to ring after midday to see if it's happening as we have another doctors strike.

Hope your dads treatment goes ok and wish him well

Best t

Dean 

Well I guess it depends on what he can eat my partner lost about 4 stone, he has now regained it all (up and down a few pounds) after the operation he got sent home with a feeding tube you hook up to a drip feed everynight so he got all the nutrients so maybe he will get the same? they told us just to eat whatever he could soups ice creams mash potatoes etc it was hard the first dew weeks but it gets easier so hopefully your dad will be able to gain most of the weight back again also x

Best of luck for your operation tomorrow, Dean. Hope all goes well